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PRONOUNCED MUD RUNNERS 9 Only Horses of Sturdy Type Able to Win at Oriental Park. Tito Luckily Escapes Defeat Well-Bred Conan Wins Like a Good One. Havana, Cuba, Decemler 20. Todays program at Oriental Pari: was made up of a serifs of sprint races, the conditions of which were framed to suit the poorer class of horses. The going was deep and heavy. Only horses with a liking for soft going were able to appear to advantage. With settled weather again prevailing, the track should be in good shape in a few days. A good-sized week day crowd was in attendance and speculation in both the books and machines was of considerable volume. It. .T. Austins Tito won wnat proved to be the most interesting and closely contested race of the afternoon, when he scored in the closing dash. The race was at one and one eighth miles and the Austin representative proceeded to make a runaway affair of it, quickly racing into a hi;; lead and had a six lengths lead when entering the stretch. Here, however, his early efforts began to tell and, tiring badly, just lasted long enough to win. Samuel It. Meyer, which floundered along in the rear most of the way, closed up with a sensational rush and was gaining on the leader with every stride. W. A. McKinneys Kentucky-bred gelding Conan, which made his first start a few days ago, won the opening dash in a manner suggesting that he may be heard from later on. Beaumont Belle showed dazzling speed in the heavy going and quickly opened a big lead, but her early efforts told on her and when challenged by Conan, tired badly. Conan, in the meantime, saved ground on all the turns, moved up fast when entering the homestretch and never flinched under punishment, getting up to win in the last twenty yards. . The result of the second race was never in doubt after the start. King Stalwart, at home in the going, sprinted into a long lead and all Taplin had to do was to sit still. He was easing King Stalwart at the end. This gelding is a pronounced mud runner, sturdy and able to run fast no matter how heavy or difficult the going. RHYME DISAPPOINTS ADMIRERS. Another runaway victory came with the running of the third race, the old mare Bunice holding sway from start to finish. Rhyme, on the strength of his recent good race, was the favorite and was always in closest pursuit of the flying leader, but to no avail. V. O. King-Dodds liad the satisfaction to see ills Migraine colt break out of the maiden class, when Vagabond won the fourth race in decisive style over Genesis, which had made a fast pace from the start, only to tire badly when overtaken by the winner. Worlds Wonder was the winner in the fifth, because of a big early lead, which advantage the others could not overcome, although the winner was tiring badly at the end. P. Cooper, who rode Tito to victory in the closing race, has won seven out of fourteen mounts he has laid since the opening of the meeting here. It is expected that with improved track conditions, many of the better grade of horses here will be seen in action soon. Many tourists are arriving here daily for the holiday season, which will be reflected in increased attendance at the track. Reports from New Orleans say that several big operators at Jefferson Park may come over here sifter the holidays. Jockey Eddie Taplin rode two winners today.
